Chapter 9: The beginning of a lifetime

	A mere days later, the journey upon the sea had ended, and the group of 
friends had finally found a friendly port.  The lustful captain had been 
detained, and Raine had taken over the Virtue.  The broken mast had been 
haphazardly nailed back in, but it had held until the shore was reached.  They 
had anchored to discover it was a resistance town.  Raine had explained that 
there were some towns not loyal to Vinetra, and that there was a whole 
underground network of people who resisted her rule.  It was a dangerous craft, 
but they were determined to find the messengers to save Aradain.

	"The resistance finally got its wish, good luck my friends!" Raine called 
from the bow of the ship.  The group had disembarked, and stood amidst the 
bustle of the dock.  They ignored the group, as they saw nothing peculiar about 
them.  Oddities came to port everyday, why should they be any different?  
"Goodbye Raine!  I hope our paths meet again!" Ash called and the group held 
their hands up, waving a goodbye to their newfound friend.  Raine waved back, 
smiling broadly.  "They will Ash!  I promise you they will!"  They left after 
she said this, smiling all the way into town.

	They were greeted by a warmly lit, densely populated shopping plaza.  The 
open air market style gave the impression of friendly people, and good times.  
Hardly the desolate, and desperate land under oppression they had pictured.  "Oh 
wow!  Look at that!" Misty cried dashing over to a stand.  "Hey Jessie!  That 
looks kind of that shop you used to like to go to back home!" James said 
excitedly pointing to a small shop in the corner of a wide hallway.  Arranged 
very similar to a mall, it was composed of the town square, a large fountain 
adorning the center of it, and several branches going off in different 
directions.  "Hey you're right!" she replied taking his hand.  "Come on!  You 
too Meowth!" Jessie said and they ran off like children, giggling with joy.

	Ash rolled his eyes and smiled at them.  "Well Brock, Jessie and James are 
excited about the same thing, should we be worried?" he asked lowering his eyes 
seductively.  "Only if James comes out with something and not Jessie, then 
worry," Brock replied with a chuckle.  "Come on, let's go find something to do, 
eh Pikachu?" no answer came to Ash's request.  "Pikachu?" the Pokemon and the 
dragon were gone.  Brock shrugged.  "I guess they went off with something to 
do," he offered.  "What's a Pokemon and a dragon going to do in a place like 
this?" Ash asked snickering.  "I don't know, what do dragons do for fun?" Brock 
answered smirking.  "Well, leave it to everyone else to go have fun and leave us 
with the dirty work," Ash grumbled.  "What do you mean?"  "We get to go find a 
hotel or an inn to stay at tonight,"  "Oh,"

	They continued through the marketplace, designated "Maamut Square" with 
large banners bearing the resemblance of a snake-like creature with the head of 
dog.  Black, with a moustache of fur hanging from an elongated snout.  They 
found it odd that such and ugly creature was immortalized in the name of the 
plaza.  They were even more shocked to find that the only inn of the town, which 
they had since found out its name was Vertigo, was the "Maamut Inn."  "What's 
with the ugly dog thing?" Brock finally ventured to ask as they stared into the 
wood carving of the inn's sign.  "Shh!  Don't ever let the princess hear you say 
that!" they looked forward to see a stout middle-aged man with a very 
forgettable standard face standing in the doorway.  He was over-weight with a 
short brown moustache and beard, and he shock the glass he had been polishing at 
the two young men.  

	Ash regarded him as no problem at all and addressed him calmly.  "Excuse 
me sir?" he asked.  The chubby man rolled his eyes and spat in the glass.  Both 
Ash and Brock flinched as he began wiping the stains off the glass as if nothing 
were wrong.  "Maamut be the favorite Pokemon of Princess Cerise, don't ever let 
her catch ya saying it be ugly!" he said ending the conversation right there and 
turning to go back inside.  Ash shuddered at the grisly innkeeper, but followed 
him in anyway.  "Wait, I was hoping you'd have a place to stay," he asked 
hopefully.  Brock followed him in.  "For uh, five people, two Pokemon, and a 
dragon," he added.  "I don't serve freaks," the innkeeper spat derisively.  

	The first encounter with someone prejudiced to their appearance stung.  
Ash raised a finger to counter the remark, but only a small squeak exited his 
mouth.  "Insulted you did I?  Well get out of 'ere 'fore I do it again freak!" 
he said motioning with a grubby hand to the door.  "Ash, let's go," Brock said 
tugging on his shoulder.  "But I-" "Let's go, Ash!"  The bigger stronger boy 
dragged him out of the building and back onto the street.  "Well I...We 
should've...He can't just...Why I ought-" he sputtered before Brock clamped a 
hand over his mouth.  "Just, shut up and let's find someplace else to stay-" 
"What?  My inn isn't good enough for the likes of you?"  Both friends looked up 
to see a young woman, clad in a tight-fitting pink dress, elegant white 
embroidery decorating it on all sides.  The gold trim beautifully accented the 
light colors of the dress, and the soft brown of her eyes.  Her strawberry blond 
hair hung neatly at the small of her back, and her hands were held rigidly on 
her hips.  A small snake-like dog creature yipped angrily at her feet.

	"Um, no miss, the owner turned us away," Ash said raising his hands 
defensively.  The girl cocked her head to the side thoughtfully.  "Turned you 
away did he?" she asked lowering her eyes seductively.  Ash nodded dumbly.  The 
girl looked over her shoulder furtively and leaned in closer to the two friends.  
"Do you have the crystals?" she asked when she was sure no one would hear her.  
"What?" Ash replied in disbelief.  The girl panicked and held a hand over Ash's 
mouth firmly.  "Shhh!  Meet me at the town square tonight at midnight, after the 
festival, and bring the others too!" she hissed and gathered the Pokemon at her 
feet into her arms.  She nodded to the two young men and dashed away, leaving 
only an extreme confusion in her wake.

	When she was out of sight, hidden in the massive crowds, Brock turned to 
his friend.  "What was that all about?" he asked raising one eyebrow.  "I don't 
know, what crystals was she talking about?" Ash replied.  "Maybe the one Misty 
has?" Brock offered.  Ash shook his head.  "But she said crystals, not crystal, 
is there more than one maybe?" he said as they began walking back to the square.  
"I don't know, but I'm definitely not coming back to meet her again," Brock 
answered.  "Oh I am, where's your spirit of adventure Brock?" Ash said punching 
him lightly in the cold stone arm.  "I think I left it in Vinetra's palace, 
along with my courage and any bravery whatsoever," Brock joked.

	Misty stood at the vendor, eagerly picking through the small glasses of 
tiny, brightly colored fish.  They looked up at her with neon, glowing eyes, and 
darted about in a theatrical display of dance and pageantry.  They seemed to 
know her, and their antics were saved just for their queen from the sea.  "A 
maiden from the sea such as yourself would probably be interested in this!" the 
young man behind the desk perked up suddenly.  Misty looked up and instantly 
grinned at the object he held outstretched in his palm.  It was a beautiful 
iridescent seashell, with a wide opening at one end that slowly shrunk as it 
coiled downwards to meet itself at a well defined point.  It hung from a black, 
silky cord that shone in the bright afternoon sun.  "Oh it's so beautiful!" she 
breathed taking it from him.  "Then it is yours," he replied placing it swiftly 
into her webbed hand.

	Misty dropped it on the counter as if it had burned her.  "Oh no!  I 
couldn't just take it!" she said breathlessly and put her hand to her chest.  
The young man somberly bent down and picked up the item.  Misty softened and 
held out a strange coin to him.  The sullen youth looked up and smiled vaguely.  
"I'll accept the gift, if you accept a donation," she said warmly.  Raine had 
given them some of the Virtue's stash of money to use, and all but one of the 
passengers had decided it had been much too long since they'd made any 
transactions at all, namely, everyone but Ash, who had taken it upon him to find 
a place to stay.

	The boy took the coin and handed Misty the necklace, she smiled as she 
departed the stand, and flipped back her short red hair to tie the black string 
beneath it.  He sighed, no more than ten years old and already he was charming 
ladies.  His father would be proud.

	"Jessie, no, absolutely not!" James called from the dressing room of the 
small clothing shop.  "Come on James!  Humor me!  I'm beginning to miss our old 
days in Team Rocket!" she answered trying to stifle her laugh.  "Well, I for one 
really don't miss this part of it!" James answered.  "Just get out here before I 
force you!" Jessie shouted beginning to get irritated.  The flap of material 
that covered the small stall moved delicately and Jessie's and Meowth's jaws 
dropped as they witnessed James step out in an orderly outfit.  The brand new 
leather boots covered his shins up to knees, and the tan pants clung close to 
his thin thighs.  The white shirt was a bit loser of a fit, but no less 
charming, lacing delicately at the top.  He had it loosely tides, revealing a 
small portion of his upper chest.  He grinned at his dumbfounded comrades and 
crossed his arms triumphantly.  "What?  You didn't actually think I was going to 
put on that horrid dress you picked out?" he asked incredulously.  

	Jessie blinked and put a hand to her forehead in disbelief.  "Y...You look 
good James," she stuttered.  "Thanks, by the way, I gave the dress to someone 
who could really use it," James answered.  "Thanks Mr. Birdy man!  You are a 
doll!" a wormy looking man sauntered up behind him.  He had a very heavy and odd 
accent, which only added to his strange appearance.  "You're very welcome," 
James answered smiling at Jessie.  The man walked to the front of the store 
flamboyantly showing of the gaudy dress, pointing towards the duo he credited 
with his new attire.  The people in the store shot them vicious looks, obviously 
disliking the man, and Jessie, who was much more self conscious than James, 
could practically feel herself shrinking in her chair.  "Okay, payback has been 
achieved and in full," she said bluntly.  "Thank you," James replied and ruffled 
Jessie's hair affectionately.  She swatted his hand away and put on a face of 
mock anger.  "Hey!  Don't mess with the hair!" she said grabbing the hand she 
had previously thwarted from its evil doings.  "No, I think you need more 
torturing," he replied diving forward, his hands moving to her rib cage.

	Jessie's eyes widened as his fingertips danced about her abdomen and she 
fell backwards with laughter.  "No tickling James!  That's an illegal move!" she 
cried holding his arms back.  "Says what rule book?" he asked Jessie's laughter 
becoming contagious.  "Says mine!" Jessie said finally forcing her way to James' 
sides.  The mutual tickling finally got to both of them, so they fell to the 
floor laughing and the assault had finally ended.  They both wiped the tears 
from their eyes, and smiled broadly until they caught their breath.  "I think 
I'm going to like it here," James said not bothering to get off the ground.  "Me 
too," Jessie answered.

	At that moment Ash burst through the door, shoving his way through the 
crowds, hoping for any sign that his comrades were still in the shop.  "Jessie?  
James?  Meowth?  Are you still here?" he called.  "Hey young man!  Stop that 
racket!" an obese woman screeched gripping his tail tightly.  He yelled in pain 
and whirled around to face her.  "Yeah and who's gonna-" he stopped as his eyes 
slowly meandered up her enormous stature.  She dropped the crimson tail and her 
stout hands moved to her hips.  Ash gritted his teeth and smiled vaguely at the 
intense look she was scrutinizing him with.  "Um, sorry Miss, but have you seen 
a blue-haired guy, with wings and a tail, came in with a redhead who has a brown 
tail, cat ears?" he asked motioning with his hands the different features of his 
friends.  "Oh them, they're back there, odd looking bunch, I've seen some ugly 
creatures in my day, but they take the cake!" the woman said audaciously and 
lumbered away.  As Ash had suspected, the instant Jessie had heard that, both 
she and James were on their feet.  "Did she just call us ugly James?"  "I 
believe she had the nerve Jessie!"  "Well, we'll show her a thing or two!"  Ash 
dashed to the two insulted friends and gripped their outstretched hands angrily.  
"Maim the marshmallow later!  I've got something really important to say, and I 
need everyone here to say it, I need to find Pikachu, Riley, and Misty, you guys 
have to help," Ash hissed dragging Jessie and James out of the store with him. 

	Meowth simply chuckled to himself and followed, crossing his tan arms 
across his chest.  "Wait!" James screeched the instant they left the store.  Ash 
jumped, startled, and whirled around, clamping a hand firmly over his mouth.  
"Be quiet James!" he hissed.  James mumbled something undecipherable under his 
palm and with a loud sigh he dropped his hand.  "Quietly...What?" Ash asked.  "I 
left my clothes in the dressing room, these aren't mine!"  Ash slapped himself 
in the forehead and shoved James roughly back into the shop.  "Geez, you really 
are as stupid as you look.  Go change and meet us back her," he muttered with a 
disgruntled tone.  James shot him an annoyed look, but trudged back in silently 
to retrieve his garments.

	Jessie raised an eyebrow and pushed Ash lightly.  "What's your problem?" 
she asked.  "What?  I just told him to get his stuff!" he replied.  "You also 
insulted him.  Now, I can't let my best friend be insulted by another friend now 
can I?  What's up?" Jessie replied defending their friend.  Ash sighed and 
relaxed, finally realizing what he had done.  "I'm sorry, it's just that, this 
is serious, and it'll be night soon, and Misty and my Pokemon are nowhere to be 
found," he said, in his nervous anxiety, still roving with his eyes for any sign 
of the missing persons.  

	Nothing more was said until James arrived wearing his original clothes.  
"There, happy now?" James snapped.  "James, I...I'm sorry," Ash said suddenly.  
James' eyes widened and he looked thoughtfully at Ash.  "It's just that," he 
stopped, not wanting to tell everyone he'd wanted to assume the leadership role, 
and that he was scared of failing, "I'm worried, and I guess there's still a bit 
of friction left over from the Pikachu thing."  James smiled and laid a hand on 
his shoulder.  "We're not going to get through this without some disagreements, 
I mean, remember what Jessie did to you in the labyrinth?" he said comforting 
Ash.

	He smiled in response and nodded.  "Help me find everyone, and meet in the 
town square at midnight.  "Twelve? Got it," Jessie said.  "Actually, 13, there's 
13 hours in a day here," Ash replied laughing at the overly used spoof for 
haunted houses and such.  Here in this land it was true.  "What's wit' da ugly 
Pokemon?" Meowth asked pointing to the Maamut adorning the clock.  Ash 
shuddered.  "Um, don't ask," he said.

	The company parted ways and left to find their companions.  It was 
nightfall before Ash really began to panic.  He and Brock had gone to look 
together, as had Jessie, James and Meowth.  Both groups suddenly stopped as they 
heard the clock begin to chime.  1...2...3..."But we haven't found Misty or 
anyone else yet!" 4...5...6...7...8... "Jessie what'll we do know?" 9 "I...I 
don't know."  10...11...12 "Welcome, to my Vertigo," 13.  The clock struck a 
final hour with a deafening knoll, nearly drowning out the soft words coming 
from the moonlit center of the town.  "Ash?"  He looked up to see Misty standing 
at the center talking to the woman in the pink dress he'd seen earlier.  Pikachu 
also stood at her feet along with Riley.  "Misty?  Pikachu?  Riley?" Ash asked 
in disbelief.  "Hey Ash!" she called cheerfully.  "What about-"  "We're here 
too," Jessie, James and Meowth emerged from the shadows.

	The girl in pink clasped her hands together excitedly.  "Misty already 
showed me the crystal, let me see the rings!" she gasped.  The group assembled 
in the center and reluctantly held out the hands they still wore the rings on.  
Her soft brown eyes grew wider as she inspected each one.  "I can't believe it!  
It's really you!" she exclaimed snatching Pikachu from the ground and squeezing 
him tightly.  "Ah!  What?  What?" he screeched trying to free himself from the 
death grip.  "You're the messengers!  Come!  You must stay with us at the 
castle!" she said happily and grabbed Ash's wrist.  He cried out in surprise as 
she dragged him along with her as she took off.  "I guess we'll go with her," he 
said shrugging and the rest of the group followed.

	The girl led them out of town, which was framed by dense woodlands.  It 
was oddly silent, not a creature dared move to spoil the placidity of their 
home.  They traveled until the girl stopped suddenly.  She turned around and 
held a finger harshly in front of her lips.  "Welcome, to your new home," she 
whispered, and parted the dense foliage that blocked her path.

	Before her, lay a castle.  It was small in comparison to most of the 
medieval style castles the group had seen, but it was beautiful no less.  The 
tall spires reaching to their utmost height, crowned with simple tops, ridged, 
and ready for battle.  It had no moat to speak of, as most of the group had 
expected, but they could see through the metal bars of the gate to the central 
courtyard where an enormous fountain, bearing the resemblance of Misty, gurgled 
pleasantly.  "Whoa," Ash breathed.  "Come!  You will live with me and the 
resistance here until you can be ready to face Vinetra!" the girl said leaping 
through the bushes.  "Wait!  Resistance?  That's here?" Ash asked awkwardly 
following her, tripping on every branch in the bushes.

	The girl turned around and smiled deviously.  "Why, this is the head of it 
all," she replied walking backwards.  "And how may I ask, are you related to 
it?" Misty asked.  "I'll tell you everything when we get to the castle, follow 
me!" she said and took off running towards the gates of the palace.  James took 
this opportunity to stretch his newly healed wings, spreading them as wide as 
they would go.  "Want a lift Meowth?" he asked and even before the cat had a 
chance to reply, James scooped him from the ground and with a flash of cerulean, 
had taken off into the night sky.

	"James!  What are ya doin'?" Meowth screeched trying to free himself.  
James closed his eyes against the wind and performed a lissome flip midair.  
Meowth yowled in protest and wriggled in his arms.  "Oh don't you just love 
flying Meowth?  It feels so, liberating," James breathed obviously enjoying his 
new talent.  Meowth felt the color drain from his face as he looked to the 
ground far below him.  "I don't love throwin' up," he muttered.  James smiled 
and stopped gliding the last few feet to the ground.  Once there, he walked over 
to the group who had since gotten to the gate with the girl and was waiting for 
him. He set Meowth on the ground as well, who took two wobbly steps forward and 
instantly fell forward on his face.  "I'll leave flying to the birds and James," 
he groaned.

	Jessie smiled and helped him up.  "Come on, we'll get you inside," she 
said winking at James.  He smiled in response.  "Guards!  Open this gate!" The 
girl yelled.  The silhouette of a man appeared in the towers on either side of 
the gate at her call.  "Who goes there?" he asked.  "Your job if you don't cut 
that King Arthur guard act out!" the girl yelled.  "Oh!  P...Princess!  I'm 
sorry!  Right away!" Sir lady ma'am!" he sputtered and the shadow disappeared.  
"Princess?" the group asked in unison.  She looked suave, flipping her hair over 
her shoulder and stepping through the gate as it opened before her.  "Princess 
Cerise of Aradain at your service," she mused and disappeared behind the rock 
wall.

	They followed Cerise into the castle and she led them quickly to a large 
room, lit only by several wiry candelabras holding thickly dipped yellowed wax 
candles.  It was enough light to see the murals painted on the walls with rich 
colors.  They had faded over the years they had been there, but it was still an 
accurate depiction, of an epic battle.  "In this room, the history of all of 
Aradain is stored, look.  The paintings, the tapestries!  All of them, they're 
all of your ancestors!" she exclaimed pointing at the intricate designs with 
sweeping motions of her hands.  "Wait a second," Jessie started, "I thought 
Aradain never had any rulers, why are you a princess?"  

	Ash smiled nervously, wondering why he hadn't realized that as well.  
Cerise sighed and pointed to the very end of the room, where several carved 
busts sat regally on wooden pedestals.  "Many generations ago, when the queen 
was defeated, the people of Aradain decided they would be better off with a 
ruler, so they held a world wide election.  My ancestor was the winner of that 
very same event, and was crowned king.  My family ruled until Vinetra came 
back," the girl paused and clenched her fists, looking away from the group, "she 
murdered my mother and father, the king and queen of Aradain.  I managed to 
escape and I'm the one next in line, I'm the rightful ruler of this land.  You 
were sent here to help me, will you stay at the castle?  This has been the 
center of the resistance for I don't know how long.  You can do your best from 
here!"  She looked back, quickly wiping a tear from her fair cheek.

	Ash smiled and turned to the rest of his friends, who in turn smiled back 
at him.  Jessie, James, and even the cat Meowth, had the same rush evident in 
their clear azure and emerald eyes.  Ash found it hard to believe that they were 
actually his friends, but when he thought of the dedication with which they had 
thrown themselves into this situation, trying so hard to be friends, he knew 
that they would stick with this until the end.  The boy now could hardly 
remember what they looked like without their new features, it was as if they'd 
always been there, and

	Misty and Brock had the same thrill about them.  They had always been his 
friends and they'd been with him every step of his journey.  Though he doubted 
they ever believed that he could make it as a Pokemon, much less achieve the 
immortality of the title of "Pokemon Master" but since they were truly his 
friends, they'd stuck by him.  "Let's do it Ash," Misty whispered quietly, for 
once sounding serious.  Ash could tell that everyone finally knew where they fit 
in the odd puzzle of the intricately written legends.

	Ash turned to the young woman in the pink dress behind him and lowered his 
head respectfully.  He drew his sword, and slowly knelt on one knee before her, 
the broad side of the sword facing her, parallel with his body.  He smiled, and 
kept his eyes shut, his head still bowed.  "My name is Ash, of the Flame, I am 
at your disposal Princess," he said.  Cerise let the tears gathering in her eyes 
fall and smiled as Misty knelt in the same fashion as her companion.  "Misty, of 
the tide," she said.  The sound of metal hissing against leather sheaths echoed 
along with the triumphant voices of all there.  "Brock of the stone!"  "Pikachu 
of the thunder!"  "Jessie of the mind!"  "James of the wind!"  "Meowth of the 
body!"  All knelt the same way, their eager eyes now directed towards the soul 
they would fight to see in its rightful position.

	They had seen their official titles inscribed on the walls of the chamber 
and knew their place in the legend.  "This is what the legends spoke of, the 
grand return of the noble messengers of Aradain," Cerise breathed.  Ash smiled 
at her and nodded as she took out the crystal Misty had given to her.  "Y...You 
may rise," the Princess choked as she turned to a large circular altar in front 
of the busts.  It had seven oddly shaped notches in it, going deep into the wood 
that had gone a deep red with age.

	She gently placed the dragon shaped crystal into its respective slot and 
it illuminated a bright blue.  "You have freed my soul, I shall now wait for my 
time to avenge the land from its oppression.  Seek out the rest of the powers, 
and beware the darkness," Icthsique's voice rang out one last time, and the 
azure light died down.  Misty smiled and stepped over to her crystal.

	She ran a hand down the intricately carved stone scaled affectionately and 
sighed.  "Until we meet again," she whispered and turned to her friends.  "So?  
Where shall we be spending the rest of our lives?" she announced placing her 
hands on her hips.  Cerise smiled and turned to walk from the room.  "Follow me, 
I shall take you to your rooms, they have been kept just as your ancestors kept 
them," she said, and the group followed them to their new homes.

	Ash sat on his bed that night, unable to sleep, and surveying his new 
surroundings.  His room was on the ground floor, in the West swing of the 
castle, and it looked out into the courtyard.  He looked up at the brilliant 
crimson canopy that shaded his bed and sighed, throwing himself down on his 
pillows roughly.  He blew out the candle at his bedside that Cerise had provided 
for him and directed his eyes toward the window.

	The silhouette f James flashed across the silver moon as he took a 
graceful dive to the ground.  "Guess he couldn't sleep either," Ash thought to 
himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed.  His limbs and tail created 
a warm red glow in the corner of the room as he gently pushed open his glass 
window just in time to witness James light deftly in the center of the 
courtyard.  "You're gettin' good at that," he called to him.  James gasped and 
clutched at his chest, whirling around suddenly. 

	Ash smirked and rested his chin in his hands, his elbows resting against 
the wooden sill.  "Do you want to give me a heart attack?" James asked smiling.  
"Why not?  Maybe it'll help me sleep," Ash mused.  "You too huh?" the winged 
young man said as he sauntered over to chat with his friend.  "Yeah, too bad I 
can't fly, it might be fun," Ash said as he fingered a cerulean feather 
longingly.  "I never thought I'd enjoy it so much," James said dreamily.  "Do 
you think we can do it?" James looked confused at the question.  "Do what?" he 
asked.  "Save this whole world?  I mean, it sounds like it would take like, a 
couple generations to find all the seven powers and get them into the crystals," 
Ash said, his brow furrowing with worry.

	James grinned, ruffling his ebony hair affectionately.  "Like they always 
say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, perhaps, today was 
ours.  See ya tomorrow pal," he said and launched into the night sky with a rush 
of warm air.  Ash closed the window and latched it securely, brushing a stray 
blue feather away.  "Cleaning up after him is going to get annoying," he mused 
and took a long leap back into bed.

	He'd often done it as a child, when he was afraid of monsters under the 
bed, but now it brought a smile to his face.  He now felt welcome in the world 
of Aradain, a world where anything could happen.  This was a world of magic, and 
strange monsters, new Pokemon and cities.  He now had a mission he knew he could 
fulfill, and he'd do it better than his ancestors had.  He'd find out more about 
them, but for now, he was tired, and needed to sleep.  He slipped under the 
covers and closed his eyes.  The sheets were cool with the night, and felt good 
against the hot flames.  He remembered when they'd first appeared, and drifted 
into sleep with this imprint lasting in his mind.  The first journey of his 
adventure was over, but this was only the beginning of the saga.

Fini